Health and safety measures at TBS worksites
This page is intended for TBS employees only.
Employees have important responsibilities to maintain their own health and safety and that of their colleagues while at the worksite. Guidance is updated regularly and aligned with most recent Public Service Occupational Health Guidance and will evolve to take into account local COVID-19 considerations and public health guidance.
Read about the health and safety measures currently in place at the TBS worksites for protecting employees working from the office or visiting the TBS workplace for a scheduled meeting or an event.
Questions regarding health and safety measures in place at TBS worksites can be directed to TBS Occupational Health and Safety Services at TBS-OHS-SS@tbs-sct.gc.ca.
On this page
- Speak to your manager before coming onsite
- Self-assess and report COVID-19 symptoms
- Follow mask-wearing guidance
- Keep a distance of 2 metres from others
- Follow appropriate safety measures during in-person meetings
- Returning to the workplace after exposure or infection
- Observe hand hygiene
- Eating at the workplace
- Clean before and after use and remove personal belongings
- Adapt preventive practices when meeting off-site
Speak to your manager before coming onsite
Inform your manager prior to accessing the worksite and remember to book a workstation.
Note: Employees coming onsite for meetings should book a workstation.
Self-assess and report COVID-19 symptoms
Prior to each visit to the worksite, conduct a self-assessment. If you are sick or showing COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive, or have been instructed to quarantine or isolate by local public health:
- stay home for at least 7 days
- advise your manager
- follow public health guidance
If you become ill at the worksite:
- put on a medical mask or respirator immediately
- self-isolate as quickly as possible and return home (avoiding the use of public transportation)
- notify your supervisor
- follow public health guidance
Note: When employees report a positive test (with either a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or rapid antigen test) managers must report in the Employee Status Reporting (ESR) app.
Follow mask-wearing guidance
Always wear a medical mask or respirator when it’s difficult to maintain physical distancing of 2 metres and while circulating in buildings (elevators, entrances, hallways, stairwells).
- You may wear your own Health Canada-authorized medical mask or respirator, or one provided by TBS (available at all Commissionaires’ desks). Cloth masks are no longer permitted in TBS workplaces.
Masks may be removed when physical distancing of 2 metres can be maintained at a workstation (including open workstations) or in a meeting.
Masks are not required when working outdoors.
TBS is creating a mask-friendly environment that supports employees feeling comfortable wearing a mask or respirator even when not required.
Keep a distance of 2 metres from others
Maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from others whenever settings or operations allow. When physical distancing cannot be maintained, other preventive practices should be adhered to, in particular the use of masks
Elevators have normal occupancy with the use of a medical mask or respirator.
Follow appropriate safety measures during in-person meetings
Maintain physical distancing of 2 metres where possible.
Wear a medical mask or respirator when physical distancing of at least 2 metres cannot be maintained.
Maximize the ventilation in the room by leaving the door open, if possible.
Returning to the worksite after exposure or infection
Close contacts of positive cases of COVID-19
If you’ve been in close contact with a confirmed or presumed case of COVID-19, you can enter the worksite after exposure if you:
- are symptom-free and
- have not been instructed to quarantine by local public health authorities
For 14 days after exposure, you must:
- self monitor for symptoms
- wear a medical mask or respirator at all times when in the workplace, even if physical distancing can be maintained
- follow other preventive practices in the worksite (for example, maximize physical distancing, refrain from eating and drinking in shared spaces)
Test positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19
You shouldn’t return to the worksite for at least 7 days if you have:
- tested positive for COVID-19 with either a rapid antigen test or a PCR test or
- symptoms of COVID-19 and are unable to be tested (are presumed to have COVID-19)
Before returning to the worksite, you must be asymptomatic or all symptoms must have resolved, with the exception of any residual cough.
Observe hand hygiene
Wash hands frequently for at least 20 seconds.
When entering and exiting the building, sanitize your hands. Hand sanitizer and wipes are placed in strategic locations in the worksite and entry areas.
Eating at the workplace
You’re encouraged to use designated eating areas to eat and drink.
Eat with as few people as possible and maintain physical distancing of 2 metres.
For 14 days after exposure to a positive case, refrain from eating and drinking in shared spaces (including workstations).
Clean before and after use and remove personal belongings
Wipe down your workstation before and after use, observing a “Clean In, Clean Out” protocol.
Don’t leave personal belongings, work documents, or supplies behind.
This approach also applies to meeting rooms, photocopier/equipment rooms and lunchrooms (tables, counters, microwaves, kitchen appliances, dishes).
Adapt preventive practices when meeting off-site
If you work off-site (for example, meetings at third-party workplaces), you should follow whichever preventive practices are more stringent:
- those in federal workplaces (for example, wearing a mask, staying home when sick, hand hygiene) or
- those of the off-site location
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